Cable-stripping pliers

ABSTRACT

A cable stripping pliers has facingly disposed arcuate cutting edges formed at the ends of transversely oppositely disposed arcuate surfaces. The pliers are adjustable to two positions for the jaws to engage differently sized cables. The resilient insulation is disposed away from the arcuate surfaces when the cutting edges cut the resilient insulation for readily removing the insulation from the core material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cable-stripping pliers. The present invention particularly relates to pliers for cutting resilient cable insulation and stripping the insulation from the cable core material.

2. Background and Discussion of the Prior Art

Insulation stripping pliers are generally known in the art. Typical cable insulation stripping pliers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,174, granted Oct. 4, 1983 to Schulz and U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,791 granted Sep. 12, 1978 to Werner. Such prior art cable stripping pliers require spring and cam mechanisms to provide the necessary movement of the stripping jaws for cutting and stripping the insulation. The stripping jaws edges were generally elongate straight with acutely angled cutting edges.

Prior art cable insulation stripping pliers were generally constructed with diverse sized cutting edges and a single pivot axis, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,910,401 granted Jun. 28, 2005 to Tapper, U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,132, granted Sep. 23, 1997 to Brimmer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,519 granted Jul. 11, 1994, to Brimmer U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,403, granted Feb. 17, 2004, to Murg, U.S. Pat. No. 6,687,991, granted Feb. 10, 2004, to Murg, U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,105, granted Apr. 11, 1978, to Vipond, U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,544, granted Aug. 26, 1986, to Jewell, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 3,902,206, granted Sep. 2, 1975 to Naquin and U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,199, granted Jul. 8, 1975 to Todaro. Such prior art pliers are generally formed with angled or beveled surfaces which surfaces formed the cutting edge. There is no disclosure of oppositely disposed arcuate surfaces, which arcuate surfaces are transversely disposed to arcuate cutting edges.

The pliers has a two mode or two position adjustable pivot construction, which permits the jaws, in a first mode, to cut insulation for cables to about 1½ inches in diameter, and in the second mode cut insulation for cables up to ¾ inch in diameter, without cutting into the core wire material.

The prior art cable stripping pliers, in cutting resilient insulation, does not generally provide sufficient means readily the insulation so as to prevent cutting of the core metal. The prior art cable stripping pliers were also generally of complex design, construction and operation.

The cable stripping pliers art desires a tool which provides for readily stripping of resilient insulation while not cutting into the core metal and yet is practical in design, manufacture and operation. The present invention provides a solution to the aforesaid art needs and desires.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present pliers readily strips resilient polymeric insulation from a cable having core metal material. The pliers, in one principal aspect includes a first member having a handle and a jaw, a second member having a handle and a jaw, and means for pivotably connecting the members so that the handles close the jaws on the resilient insulation, and at least one jaw has oppositely disposed arcuate surfaces and an cutting edge formed at the end of the arcuate surfaces, so that with the jaws closed on the cable the cutting edge cuts the insulation away from the core material. In a further aspect, both jaws comprise like arcuate surfaces with like cutting edges, and the cutting edges are facingly disposed with the jaws closed. Each cutting edge is formed by opposite disposed arcuate contoured surfaces. The cutting edges are themselves arcuate. The arcuate surfaces are transversely disposed to the respective arcuate cutting edge. The cutting edges in cutting the insulation cause the insulation to be spacingly disposed from the arcuate surface of the pliers and permits readily stripping the insulation.

In a further embodiment, the invention is a pliers for stripping resilient insulation from a cable with a core material, which pliers includes a first member having a handle and a jaw, and a second member having a handle and a jaw, and means for adjustably pivotably connecting the members so that the handles close the jaws in one of two modes on the insulation and each jaw has oppositely disposed arcuate surfaces having an arcuate cutting edge formed at the respective ends of the arcuate surfaces in operable combination with a cable having a core (e.g. metal) and a resilient non-metallic (e.g. polymeric) insulation covering the core. The pliers jaws are closed on the cable, which cause the arcuate cutting edges to cut the insulation, which in turn cause the insulation upon being cut to be disposed away from the arcuate surfaces for readily stripping the insulation from the core metal without cutting into the metal. Each jaw has two oppositely disposed arcuate surfaces that form the arcuate cutting edge. The jaw arcuate surfaces are oppositely disposed with the cutting edges disposed in the same plane. The arcuate cutting edges are transversely disposed to and between surfaces. The cutting edge extends substantially along the lengths of the jaws. The cutting edges are disposed equidistant between the oppositely disposed sides of the respective jaws.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the cable-stripping pliers in a partially opened operable position;

FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of the pliers as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of pliers of FIG. 1 shown in the fully closed position absent a cable;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the pliers of FIG. 3 and the pliers jaws opened and engaging the insulation of a cable; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the FIGS., there is shown the cable-stripping pliers 10 of the present invention. Pliers 10 include a first member 11 and a second member 12, and a two-position adjustable pivot assembly 13 for pivotably connecting members 11 and 12. Pivot assembly 13 includes pivot pin 14 and a two-lobe through hole 15. Through hole 15 slidably rotatably receives pivot pin 14. The two-mode or two-position adjustable pivot permits the jaws, in a first mode to cut the insulation for cables up to about 1½ inches in diameter, and in the second mode cut insulation for cables up to ¾ inch in diameter, without cutting into the core material.

Member 11 includes grip handle 17, intermediate portion 18, jaw 19 and distal end 20. Member 11 is of one-piece integral hardened steel construction. Intermediate portion 20 formed with through hole 15. Member 12 includes grip handle 21, intermediate portion 22, jaw 23 and distal end portion 24. Member 12 of one-piece integral hardened steel construction. Intermediate position 22 is formed with through hole 15 a for receiving pivot pin 14. Jaws 19 and 23 are formed with specifically configured elongate cutting elements 25 and 26, for reasons hereinafter appearing.

Cutting element 25 is formed of oppositely disposed arcuate surfaces 25 c and 25 b, which in turn form transversely disposed arcuate cutting edge 25 c formed at the end of surfaces 25 c and 25 b. Cutting element 26 is formed of oppositely disposed arcuate 26 and 26 b, which is turn from arcuate cutting edge 26 c (FIG. 5). Cutting edges 25 c and 26 c are disposed in the same plane, and are facingly disposed with the jaws 19 and 23 fully closed (FIG. 3). It is understood that in the preferred embodiment, at least one jaw includes an arcuate forming an arcuate cutting edge surface. Each cutting edge 25 c and 26 c extends substantially along the length of each elongate jaw. The cutting edges are not contactingly engaged with the jaws closed, but rather spacedly disposed. The distal ends of the jaws are contactingly engaged in the fully closed position adjacent V-groove 40. The cutting edges are 25 c and 26 c disposed equidistant between the oppositely disposed sides 35 a, 35 b and 36 a, 36 b, respectively.

The adjustable pliers has a two mode or two operable position adjustable pivot construction, which permits the jaws, in a first mode, to cut insulation for cables to about 1½ inches in diameter, and in the second mode cut insulation for cables up to ¾ in diameter, without cutting into the core wire material.

In the aforesaid manner of construction, the handles are gripped and close the jaws on a cable. The arcuate surface cut into the insulation and in doing so cause the resilient insulation to move away from the arcuate surface. This construction and operation permits the ready stripping of the resilient polymeric insulation for the core metal.

While this invention has been described as having preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modification, uses and/or adaptations of the invention following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims. 

1. A pliers for stripping insulation from a cable having resilient insulation covering a core material, said pliers comprising: (a) a first member comprising a handle and a jaw; (b) a second member comprising a handle and a jaw; (c) means for pivotably connecting the members so that the handles close the jaws on the insulation; and (d) each jaw comprises oppositely disposed arcuate surfaces and a cutting edge disposed at the end of the respective oppositely disposed arcuate surfaces, each jaw is elongate, and each elongate arcuate cutting edge extends substantially along the length of the respective jaw, whereby the cutting edges, in cutting the insulation, cause the insulation to be spacingly disposed from the arcuate surfaces for ready stripping of the insulation from the core material.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. The pliers of claim 1, each said jaw comprises oppositely disposed planar sides disposed in respective planes, and said cutting edges are disposed between the planes.
 5. A pliers for stripping insulation from a cable having resilient insulation covering a core material, said pliers comprising: a first member comprising a handle and a jaw; a second member comprising a handle and a jaw; means for pivotably connecting the members so that the handles close the jaws on the insulation; each said jaw comprises an arcuate surface and an elongate cutting edge disposed at an end of the arcuate surface, said arcuate surface being transversely disposed to said cutting edge, each said jaw comprises oppositely disposed planar sides disposed in respective planes, and said cutting edge is disposed between the planes; and wherein each jaw is elongate and each elongate cutting edge extends substantially along the length of the respective jaw; whereby the cutting edges, in cutting the insulation, the insulation is caused to be spacingly disposed from the arcuate surfaces for ready stripping of the insulation from the core material.
 6. The pliers of claim 5, each jaw comprises a distal end, each said distal end comprises a planar surface, said planar surfaces being in contacting engagement with the jaws fully closed absent the cable.
 7. The pliers of claim 6, said closed jaws distal end provide a V-notch, wherein the cutting edges are spacedly disposed with the jaws fully closed absent the cable. 8-13. (canceled)
 14. In combination: (i) a pliers for stripping insulation from a cable core material, said pliers comprising; (a) a first member comprising a handle and a jaw, (b) a second member comprising a handle and a jaw; (c) means for adjustably pivotably connection the members so that the handles close the jaws in one of two modes on one of two differently sized cables, (d) at each said jaw being elongate and comprises an arcuate surface, each said arcuate cutting edge extending substantially the length of the respective elongate jaw; and (ii) a cable comprising a core material and a resilent insulation covering the core material, whereby with the pliers jaws closed on the cable, the cutting edges cut the insulation and insulation is disposed away from the arcuate surface for readily stripping and insulation, each said jaw comprises two said arcuate surfaces, each jaw arcuate surfaces being oppositely disposed with the respective cutting edge disposed between the arcuate surfaces, each said jaw comprises oppositely disposed planar sides disposed in respective planes, and said cutting edge is disposed between the respective planes ; wherein each jaw is elongate and each cutting edge extends substantially along the length of the respective jaw.
 15. The combination of claim 1, wherein the means for adjustably pivotably connecting the members comprises means for pivoting the members to one of two operable positions with the cable disposed therein, and a fully closed position absent the cable.
 16. The combination of claim 15, wherein the elongate arcuate cutting edges are spacingly disposed in the fully closed position.
 17. The combination of claim 16, each said jaw comprises oppositely disposed planar sides disposed in respective planes, and said cutting edge is disposed between the respective planes.
 18. In combination: (i) a pliers for stripping insulation from a cable core material, said pliers comprising; (a) a first member comprising a handle and a jaw, (b) a second member comprising a handle and a jaw; (c) means for adjustably pivotably connecting the members so that the handles close the jaws in one of two operable modes on one of two differently sized cables, (d) each said jaw comprises an arcuate surface and an elongate arcuate cutting edge disposed at the end of the arcuate surface; and (ii) a cable comprising a core material and a resilient insulation covering the core material, whereby with the pliers jaws closed on the cable, the cutting edges cut the insulation and the insulation is disposed away from the arcuate surfaces for readily stripping the insulation.
 19. A pliers for stripping insulation for a cable, said pliers comprising: (a) first member comprising a handle and a jaw; (b) a second member comprising a handle and a jaw; (c) means for pivotably connecting the members; (d) each jaw being elongate and comprises oppositely disposed arcuate surfaces formed with a an elongate arcuate cutting edge disposed at the ends of the surfaces, each elongate cutting edge extends substantially along the length of the respective jaw, each said jaw comprises oppositely disposed planar sides disposed in respective planes, and said cutting edge is disposed between the respective planes; whereby with the jaws closed on the insulation, the cutting edges cut the insulation with the insulation disposed away from the arcuate surfaces for readily stripping the insulation.
 20. (canceled)
 21. The pliers of claim 19, said elongate arcuate cutting edges are facingly disposed with the jaws closed.
 22. The pliers of claim 21, said cutting edges being disposed equidistant between the planes.
 23. The pliers of claim 19, wherein said means pivotably connecting the members comprises a pivot pin and means for adjustable connecting members so that the pivot pin is movable to two operable positions for the elongate cutting edges to operably strip two differently sized cables.
 24. The pliers of claim 23, said elongate arcuate cutting edges being facingly disposed in each operable position.
 25. The pliers of claim 5, each cutting edge subtends an arc of less than 180°.
 26. The pliers of claim 5, each jaw comprises a distal end face, and one end of the respective elongate arcuate cutting edge is disposed adjacent the distal end face and the other end of the elongate arcuate cutting edge is disposed adjacent the means for pivotably connecting the members. 